Denys Wortman's New York: Portrait of the City in the 30s and 40s

As an artist, this is easily one of my favorite books to revitalize my desire to pick a pencil and start sketching the world I live in on paper. Wortman’s eye catches all the nuisances of everyday life in an era long gone from most people’s memory. Each illustration is layered, not only with a clever gag, but with a peek through the window of citizens of all classes reacting to the world and the times they found themselves living in. Wortman’s artistic skills are masked by the looseness and the casualness of his style, but don’t be fooled, his perspective, composition and staging are on par with the great masters. If you, as an artist, want a tutorial on “how to do it” or if you’re a casual reader that wants to have a time-travel experience, then this is the book for you.

The media could not be loaded.  Going through the drawings in this book is like time traveling back into the 30s and 40s New York. You get that sense of nostalgia if you've been to New York, or that element of surprise if you have not - just like a tourist.There are over 200 pencil drawings selected from the 5000 drawn by Denys Wortman, a cartoonist, born in 1887.Each drawing is a beautiful snapshot of the life back them, captured in time. You can really feel how the New York city was like. You can see the roads jammed with classic Henry Ford cars, beach goers at Coney Island, roses were 2 cents then, workers at their old offices filled with papers and forms, Grand Central Station and how it has not changed, rainy day with running pedestrians on the streets, the ceiling fan on the subway train, Radio City wasn't finished yet, and so many more. There are so many interesting people to see.The drawings filled with details waiting to be discovered. There are also captions with each but they are hand written and difficult to read (at least to me). The pictures speak for themselves anyway.This book is a gem, highly recommended, especially to sketchbook lovers.(There are more pictures of the book on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)

I have given copies to three different people, who grew up in NYC. and love this book.The neighborhoods depicted are all pencil drawings in an acutely observed, loving detail.

The editors & family of Denys Wortman deserve ultimate praise for sharing this artist in a delightful, overwhelmingly full of art, book.It is amazingly current in thought and circumstance...perfect timing for its release.The cartoonist's ability to exhibit character & perspective was brilliant. NYC office life with surprisingly contemporary situations.Though over half a century has passed, not at all too late to become a tremendous fan of this author.His illustrations are unbelievably detailed. Unreal how prolific Wortman was. These works had been hidden in storage- a treasure trove uncovered.It is a superb gift selection & suggestion which is ageless in enabling identification with author's humor or opinion.An opportunity to share with a new generation or awaken past lives in those who have lived it.Not necessarily the humor as much as an on target perspective of New Yorkers through Wortman's eyes. Resilience of the city-now & forever!

You often wonder how great books about insignificant people hit the market. At the recent opening of the presentation of this book (Denys Wortmans' New York) at the Museum of the city of New York,Denys Worthman (the son) said that for years no one was interested in the 5000 or so original cartoons he had in storage,until the editor of the book heard of them and realised the treasure to be uncovered. If you would like to see what NYC looked like and sounded like 60 - 70 years ago, buy the book or go to the Museum and see a fraction of the originals that are displayed in the book.

Needed this for a college course. Ordered and received without complaint.

Denys Wortman's single panel newspaper feature depicted 1930s and 40s New York street and domestic life with great humor and affection. His drawings all have the ring of truth about them, rich with wonderful graphic detail. The full page drawings in this excellent collection are reproduced from original art, so things lost in newspaper printing are all restored here. Another great "lost" cartoonist brought back from the brink!

Great sketches and a glimpse into a difficult time in American history

Edicion muy cuidada, de gran calidad. Un placer para los sentidos. Un retrato de Nueva York a través de un dibujante extraordinario q refleja la vida corriente de los habitantes de la ciudad americana en los años 30-40 del siglo pasado.

Un libro con unas ilustraciones geniales que transportan a la época en la que se situan las escenas. Genial.

Je ne connaissait pas l'illustrateur Denys Wortman, mais voilà presque presque 300 pages d'émerveillement continuel pour se rattraper avec ce très beau recueil.

En photo, au cinéma, en dessin, en bande dessinée, New York est toujours une ville fabuleuse et le travail de Denys Wortman's est tout simplement fabuleux lui aussi !